Good spots in the Scottsdale area for food (although not necessarily for ambience):

Sakana - on Indian Bend just east of Hayden - terrific, little-known sushi place in a strip mall
House of Tricks - great food in Tempe
AZ88 - fantastic Burgers Las Brisas on the Scottsdale Mall, lunch place, not a dinner place
Jewell of the Crown - right across from AZ88, near SMOCA, Indian food
Chuck Box - ASU area of Tempe - the original Big Juan, and the only Juan since the Scottsdale location closed down
Saigon Nights - great Pho on Hayden in the Scottsdale Airpark
Osha's - Thai food on Frank Lloyd Wright in a strip mall

I've only been to the ChuckBox, and would usually only go if I had a two for one coupon. Even when I went to ASU, I only went there a couple of times.

Any recc's on the best place to stay in the PHX/Scottsdale area for a 1-night layover on our way from HNL to BOS?

Someplace with a nice pool..

Also, has anyone had luck with a very late check-out at any of these places? We're arriving to PHX at midnight.. and leaving the next night at 11:00p

Just got back from Scottsdale and thought I would add my restaurant reviews.

Friday night we ate at City Hall Steakhouse. We had a reservation at 7:45pm and our table was ready right on time. The dining is large and very LOUD. In the main dining room there are long benches running along the sides of the room. The center of the room is filled with many large party tables. The food was excellent, but I didn't find it warm and cozy for conversation. This restaurant is better suited for a group of 4 or more who are looking for a "see and be seen" type of restaurant.

Saturday night we ate at Cowboy Ciao. I found the service to be rather lack luster. We also felt very rushed. My dining companion loved the bleu cheese stuffed pork chop, but I found it to be too rich. The South African wine flight was almost undrinkable. I would not return to this restaurant.

Pizzaria Bianco....it's worth the wait

Scottsdale-Valley of the Sun restaurant recommendations (continuously updated)
 

I am a regular visitor to this area and have sampled many restaurants in the Valley of the Sun. I will update this post as I try new places or revisit earlier samplings with new info.

We dined on Sunday night at The Mission on Brown St in Old Town Scottsdale. We wanted to sample the puerco. It is very good. A bit noisy, good wine list. Go there early on Sunday to sample the pork. It is excellent. Nice outdoor patio as well.

El Chorro Lodge on Lincoln Ave. east of Tatum Blvd. has been remodeled extensively with a lovely open bar and patio. Good food & a great vibe! http://www.elchorrolodge.com/ A very nice happy hour on the weekdays from 3-6PM as well.

In old town Scottsdale just north on Indian School on Marshall Way is Frank & Lupe's Mexican restaurant. This is the only New Mexico style Mex I know of in the Valley. Go there for lunch and go around to the back to Santos Bar for nice shady patio experience.

Another great patio is at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn. This is our favorite lunch spot in the valley. We always take our out of town guest here for the patio experience. Try the Sunday brunch. Also a nice wine program here. Check out their website for current info.

Have eaten repeatedly at True Food Kitchen. There are now two locations; The Biltmore shopping center on Camelback Rd. and the Scottsdale Quarter. Very good concept, especially for lunch. This is a Fox Restaurant Group concept. Often times Costco is selling a pair of $50 gift cards for only $79.99. A nice way to enjoy this lunch spot. Have not tried dinner here but others I have suggested this to report that they enjoyed it.

Christopher Fermier's Bistro is also located in the Biltmore SC. It is an excellent French restaurant with a killer happy hour during the weekday afternoons in the bar. Great wine list and fabulous duck!

Finally ate at one of the three Yard House restaurants while cruising the west side before a baseball game. Nice happy hour pricing with lots of interesting small plates. We liked it but weren't wild about the food quality....

Zinc Bistro @ Kierland Common is another favorite lunch spot that we have sampled repeatedly. I think they have really gotten it together now and, if you have not tried it lately, deserves another visit. Warning; It is the favorite spot for the ladies who enjoy a leisurely lunch, so lots of shopping bags hanging out at the tables.

Have now had lunch on three occasions @ Postino. It is near 40th & Campbell just behind Le Grande Orange. The specialty here is bruschetta. Until 5 PM every glass of wine is $5. A nice spot in the old Arcadia post office with a shaded patio. We have been pleased with it!

A ways to the north, in the town of Carefree, try Carefree Station or Cafe Bink. We are repeat customers @ both places and enjoy eating outside when the weather permits.

Noca, near 32nd and Camelback, is a wonderful choice when you are being wined and dined by someone on an expense account. Very innovative cuisine and a killer wine list. This was recently named one of the best restaurants in the Valley by one of the local publications.

Like Mex? Try Barrio on Cactus Rd just east of Tatum Blvd. This is not the same as the Barrio Cafe located on 16th. (I still need to sample that one.)

Sportsman Wine Bistro on Scottsdale Rd and Shea, 2700 wines, decent food with wine bar. plenty of sports celebrities in and out of there.

Spent the past weekend resampling some places and tried a couple of new ones:
Had a good, but noisy, dinner Saturday night at Blanco. This is located in the Borgata on Scottsdale Rd, just south of Lincoln. Busy place, another Fox restaurant. Costco had the pair of $50 gift cards for $79.99 last time I checked. Great chicken mole. Probably a bit mild for some tastes but I liked it. OK wine list, limited choices. Noisy on the weekends.

J. Alexanders is located in the Borgata also. A very affordable wine list. Have had nice lunches there repeatedly. Janet swears that this is the best French Dip prime rib beef sandwich she as ever sampled.

Not far from this spot a favorite of ours is Rancho Pinot Grille. An excellent chef and a very good wine list. Open for lunch during the spring time.

Last night we dined at Beckett's Table down on Indian School near 38th. Fabulous!! A somewhat inventive cuisine, nice price point for both the main courses as well as the well stocked wine list. Get your rez early, for this one is a big hit with everyone. Just opened in November 2010. Josh was a sous chef at the now defunct Canal restaurant in Scottsdale. Definitely worthy of your restaurant dollars!! ****

Petit Maison on Shoemaker near Old Town Scottsdale. Good French bistro. Love the snails. Have had lunch several times at The Daily Dose on Scottsdale RD. Love the fact that I can order breakfast until 4 PM. I just love egg dishes and beer.

Any suggestions for seafood/sushi in the Mesa area (we'll be staying in the Gold Caynon area).
Thanks for the help.

McGrath's Fish House, US 60/Stapley is good for seafood. Might be a chain, not sure. There's tons of chain restaurants around, and an AMC theater across the street.

Ah-So is a great local sushi place, there's one at Gilbert/Baseline (about 1/2 mile south of the 60). It is a busy corner, there's a Trader Joe's there too.

There used to be some sort of seafood shop across Gilbert from Ah-So, and I think it was a restaurant too.

Not necessarily seafood or sushi, but locals rave about The Landmark in downtown Mesa. The menu is a bit pricey, and the place is always packed.

There are the usual chain restaurants near Superstion Springs Mall, around Power and US 60.

Ah-So is also good for a teppanyaki show, poor man's alternative to Benihana. As for sushi, come further West towards Phoenix/Chandler/Tempe and you have outlets of Ra Sushi and Sushi Eye in Motion.

Best Brunch--PHX/Scottsdale?
 

Looking for a Sunday brunch party of 5. Around $30pp--good food and possibly a view. Any ideas?

http://www.elchorrolodge.com/

I <heart> their homemade hash.

Roaring Fork, $19/per person, not much of a view though.

Try Lon's @ The Hermosa Inn. My comments about Lon's and others are here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15756110-post51.html

$2 tix to Great AZ Picnic reg. $10
 

Get up to four tickets to the Great AZ Picnic in Scottsdale, next weekend 4/10 from noon to 6pm. This is a really neat event that is held every year as part of the Scottsdale Culinary Festival.

http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/deal/1179

MIM Cafe and Museum
 

Went to the MIM this weekend, using our B of A card for free admission, wonderful experience. The cafe is good, the menu changes daily and the emphasis is on organic, fresh, and healthy.

http://www.themim.org/

http://www.cafebonappetit.com/mim/weekly_menu.html